State Sen. Lowe Finney of Jackson won't run for a third term in 2014

Democratic minority even more vulnerable

NASHVILLE — State Sen. Lowe Finney's decision to not seek re-election next year leaves beleaguered Democrats vulnerable to more losses in the Tennessee legislature in the 2014 elections.

Finney, 37, a Jackson lawyer and rising Democratic star, announced Wednesday he won't run for a third term. As chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, he's the second-ranking Democrat of only seven in the chamber, behind Democratic Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis.

Finney represents the Jackson-to-Dyersburg area — his District 27 covers Dyer, Crockett, Lake, Lauderdale and Madison counties. He said he believes Democrats "absolutely" can hold the seat, but the absence of an incumbent in the race leaves it up for grabs and Republicans already touting a candidate, Jackson business owner Ed Jackson.

Six of the Senate's seven Democrats — all except Kyle — are up for election next year, and two of the six — Finney and Sen. Douglas Henry of Nashville — are not running. Henry's Nashville district is considered a Democratic seat, but rural West Tennessee has trended Republican. By contrast, only 11 of the Senate's 26 Republicans are on the ballot next year, because senators serve four-year terms, with only half of the 33 seats up for election every two years.

Finney said the timing is right for him to leave the Senate at the end of his term. "I'm proud of the work we did on the Choices Act (long-term care for the elderly as alternatives to nursing homes) and Race to the Top (education reform) — those types of issues. And frankly, I just wanted to leave when I was ready to leave. My wife and I have been giving this a lot of thought and consideration the last several months and we came to this conclusion together, and it seems like the time is right."

Finney would not speak to rumors that he may run for mayor of Jackson in 2015 when Mayor Jerry Gist's second term expires but said he is not running for governor next year. "My focus for the next 16 months is on my district and what folks in West Tennessee need me to work on, and that's what I'm going to be doing."

He was elected to the Senate in 2006 and won re-election in 2010, in a district that both times comprised Madison, Carroll and Gibson counties. Legislative redistricting by majority Republicans shifted District 27 westward, moving Carroll and Gibson out of it while adding the four counties to the west.

But Finney said the redrawn district did not prompt his decision. "Absolutely not. We spent a considerable amount of time, we completed several town halls last year and this year and we're going to have more. I'll still be getting out in those counties and have been welcomed very warmly in all those counties."

Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney likened Finney's announcement to former U.S. Rep. John Tanner's decision not to seek another congressional term in 2010 rather than face a tough GOP challenge. "Lowe Finney just took a page out of the John Tanner playbook. He saw we have strong GOP candidates this cycle, like Ed Jackson, and decided taking on a Republican was a losing cause," Devaney's statement said.

Finney said that his early announcement gives Democrats time to find quality candidates. "It's no secret it's been tough for Democrats for the last few cycles, both in the (state) House and Senate. I'd like to see more of us run, and finding good candidates who can run in those seats statewide (is) something I'm sure will change in the next cycle. Even with Democrats being in the minority in the last couple of years, we've been able to affect policy on a pretty big basis," he said.